Snowboard Club UK FAQs (frequently-asked questions)

International FIS competitions have different levels of experience and whether you are able to enter depends on your current FIS points. The lowest is 0 and the highest 1000. The competition level also determines how many points you receive for 1st, 2nd 3rd… and so on allocating points to the top 90% of the competitors entered. The following are abbreviations of the levels used in the FIS calendar www.fis-ski.com/calender and are listed in order of difficulty:

• FIS (lower Standard International competitions, this includes National Competitions sanctioned by FIS and some University events)

• COC - Continental Cups are Intermediate standard i.e. British Development Team and British Junior Team. These competitions are also known in the following context, NAC- Nor-am, North American Competition; EC - Europa Cup Competitions, SAC - South American Competition.

• WC - World Cups are World Class events where you will find our very own Lesley McKenna and Dom Harington, plus big names such as Shaun White and Ross Powers. A minimum of 20 SnowboardX FIS points is required to start SBX; a minimum of 10 Half-pipe FIS points is required to start in HP; and a minimum of 10 Big Air or Half-pipe FIS points are required for BA.

• WSC/ WJC World Snowboard Championships and World Junior Snowboard Championships

• OWG, Olympic Winter Games
For more in-depth information please see www.snowsportgb.com.

Some FIS questions are also answered in the "General" sub category of "Competitive Riding"

Entries in Europe are normally free of charge (once you’ve paid for your FIS license), although there is no specific rule to guarantee this. In the States, and often the Southern Hemisphere, it is often a requirement to pay entry fees but these often include lift tickets. This is an important cost of which to be aware. In such cases payment is made direct to the race organiser.

FIS – The only skiing and snowboarding governing body recognised by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) overlooks International competitor licences, competition and rankings.